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gaze.
    Miss Darcy spoke not a single word once she took the seat near her brother, but she watched Elizabeth and Jane with obvious curiosity. This was proof to Elizabeth that her suspicions were correct: Miss Darcy was as proud and disagreeable as her brother—just as Mr. Wickham declared her to be—and she clearly had an interest in Mr. Bingley. Otherwise, why look at Jane with such interest?
    Deciding the Darcy siblings would not ruin her disposition, Elizabeth entered into a pleasant conversation with Colonel Fitzwilliam, whose company she enjoyed exceedingly. The colonel, attentive and polite, insisted that Jane move closer to them and take a seat near her sister. Blushing, Miss Bennet joined the animated group, and it was not long before a smile finally came to Jane’s face, and her loveliness overcame her distress. Elizabeth could not be more grateful to the colonel.
    Shortly thereafter, Lord Matlock invited the gentlemen to accompany him to the library before dinner.
    Lady Selina approached her cousin and whispered something to her. Miss Darcy seemed to hesitate a few moments, looked with alarm at her brother, and then finally joined her cousin near the settee where the other ladies were sitting. A tentative conversation thus began.
    “Miss Elizabeth, I am pleased finally to make your acquaintance.” Elizabeth heard Miss Darcy’s low voice.
    “Finally, Miss Darcy?” She smiled and tried not to sound impertinent. “Have you heard of me before this evening? How is that possible?”
    The girl sketched a tentative smile. “Yes, my brother used to write me from Hertfordshire quite often—”
    “Mr. Darcy mentioned me in his letters to you? Oh dear, I dare not imagine the terrible things he must have said.” She laughed, looked at her aunt meaningfully, and then turned back to Miss Darcy. The girl was pale.
    “Miss Elizabeth, have I offended you in some way? I am so sorry… I do not… I mean… Why do you presume that my brother—”
    Miss Darcy’s shy, trembling voice and wide, blue eyes left Elizabeth with no words. Hesitantly, Elizabeth touched the girl’s hand and forced a smile.
    Lady Selina spoke gently. “Georgiana dearest, do not distress yourself. I am sure Miss Elizabeth is speaking in jest. If Darcy mentioned Miss Elizabeth in his letters to you, I am sure he spoke well of her.”
    Elizabeth barely repressed a laugh. “Indeed there is no need for distress, Miss Darcy. You did not offend me at all. I am only surprised that Mr. Darcy took the time to write about me, considering he and I are not friends. He has always been my severest critic, and I can safely declare that his opinion of me cannot be high, so you must understand my concern about what he might have told you.”
    She continued laughing, hoping they would join in her amusement. However, Miss Darcy interrupted her again, quite determined.
    “That cannot be true… My brother mentioned to me that he missed my playing the piano but was fortunate to enjoy your performance a few times…and he expressed his approval of your interest in books. I fear I do not read as much as I should, and he…”
    Elizabeth stared at Miss Darcy, unable to trust this revelation. Mr. Darcy expressed his approval of me? There must be some sort of mistake! She was tempted to declare her doubts once more, but Miss Darcy seemed so honest and trusting in her own words that Elizabeth dared not upset her again. She smiled and whispered a polite, “Thank you.”
    “Well, this is a surprise,” said Lady Selina. “Not only does Darcy seem to be an acquaintance of the Miss Bennets, but you appear to know Miss Elizabeth very well.”
    “Oh, not very well, unfortunately,” Miss Darcy replied, suddenly more inclined to talk. “But my brother wrote me almost every day from Hertfordshire…and I also heard accounts from Mr. Bingley…”
    Jane instantly grew pale, and Elizabeth was intent on knowing more.
    “Mr. Bingley is a friend of yours, I understand. Miss